Odd Man Out Page #5

nature should take her course.

Father Tom, I'd hate for to let the bird

slip out of me grasp.

It's a hard world, Father -

I don't mind telling you -

and I want the bird

because there's money in him.

My son, it's a hard world,

a very hard world.

It's fierce.

I know there's praying and all that

but if I don't take what's coming to me

as chances, I'd just starve.

Poor fellow.

- What will you do with him?

- I've told you.

I want to get him out of the corner

- and put him right.

- And after that?

There's lots of people that'll pay me

a grand price for Johnny.

- The police?

- I'm not referring to them.

I'm thinking of the friends

he must have.

- Where is he?

- Don't blame him. He's got to live.

- But not telling us where he is.

- I've told you he's in the corner.

If he knows where he is,

we must trust him.

Tell me, what price

are you asking for him?

Well...I could get a thousand

for him.

You foolish man.

Money wouldn't make you happy.

I'm only telling you what I could raise

on him if I had a mind to.

We'll get you a little something

but not 1,000.

All that money

would be a terrible burden.

First of all, where is he?

- Bring him to us.

- That's what I was waiting to hear.

But, Father, it won't be an easy job,

you know.

- No but you'll try.

- I will, I will.

But I'm still thinking

and wondering...

how much you're...?

I'm a poor man. I've got no money.

Oh, that's bad.

Oh, but it might be the young lady here,

she could lend you a bit.

I'm sure she couldn't.

Oh, well, listen...

A fella was telling me

the he heard tell

that His Reverence the Pope is rich.

- Blather.

- Blather?

- Is that a fact?

- It is just blather.

How do you suggest that we should

settle this matter decently?

If you like, I'll try to inspire in you

a precious particle of faith.

Faith?

Would it pay the rent and help me

to get a pint of stout now and then?

Shell, you and I are poor men.

We must live the best we can.

I've been poor longer than you have.

Bring back Johnny and I'll show you

the way to get real riches.

We'll talk about the way to live

and then there'll be a fine reward for you.

Still the bit of faith?

But what is the value of it

in hard cash?

Trust me. Bring Johnny back

and we'll settle it all.

Now, will yer?

Aye, I will.

I will.

- No, miss. I'll bring him.

- You stay here.

- Well, my child?

- Father...

When Shell returns...

give Johnny to me.

- It's not for me to give him away.

- Why is he coming here?

Shell says he's wounded, maybe dying.

I want to hear his confession

and do what I can to comfort his soul.

- And afterwards?

- I'll ask him to give himself up.

- Father...

- What do you want me to do, child?

Take him back so that he can kill

more people and defy the authorities?

So that I can take him away

and be with him.

You will never hear of him again,

I promise.

- But you couldn't hide him for long.

- I've done it before.

This is different. He's killed a man

and he must pay the penalty.

Rather than that,

I'd take his life myself.

Child, you mustn't say such things.

Why, Father?

The law would do it for revenge.

I only do it out of pity.

Have you thought

what would happen to you?

I shall go with him.

Kathleen.

You don't know what you're saying.

If he's arrested, I'll have to live

while he's on trial,

while he's being executed.

And afterwards for all the years

of my life.

Kathleen, there's a little glove

for putting on the coals.

Can you see it?

Listen. When people are

in deep trouble,

they often say to me

they'll kill themselves

and they mean it at the time.

But when everything seems lost,

God gives them the courage to win.

It's not for myself that I'm afraid.

Why then?

I'm afraid for him if he should die alone.

When men were against him,

I protected him.

If I go with him,

perhaps I can protect him again.

Listen, Kathleen.

This life is nothing

but a trial for the life to come.

You're being tested now

and if you want real happiness

for Johnny and yourself,

you'll face your ordeal

and win your own heaven.

You're wise, Father, good, I know.

I want to listen to you but I can't.

I can't take it in.

I only know that what I feel

is stronger than my religion,

stronger than myself.

Kathleen, where's your faith?

My faith is in my love.

You have neither the power

nor the right to do this thing.

I believe that what I intend to do

is good.

- Did you see who came in?

- Yes. Keep quiet. Ha'pence change.

- Mr Fencie...

- Quiet.

- Who is that fellow?

- It's Johnny.

Get on with your work.

Let Charlie chuck him out

before there's trouble.

And what would happen

if his friends found out?

- What do we do then?

- You carry on.

Come on.

Take this and get out of here.

I need to stay and rest.

I'll go when you close.

You're not going to rest here.

Come on.

You're wasting good stuff. Get out

of here. Pull yourself together.

- Shall we run him out?

- No. Wait till closing time.

Then get rid of him. Keep your eye

on here. Serve number four.

Shell!

- That you, Shell?

- I'm going out. I have business.

Ah! I've got it.

That's right. You be good birds,

you be good birds.

- Ah, Shell, dear.

- Lukey! Lukey!

Shell!

- I need you.

- Lukey!

Look, Lukey, I have

important business matters, Lukey.

Look, you see? It's not right.

I haven't got what I wanted, have I?

- Oh, you're at it again, Lukey.

- It's the eyes.

Why don't paint a nice jug

and some apples like the other fellas?

- Sit down, Shell.

- But...

- It'll take a couple of minutes.

- It's always a couple of minutes,

stretching to hours

in this blasted chair!

One day you'll die, Shell,

but this picture will live.

Lukey...Lukey, I have

important business matters.

Lukey, I know

where Johnny McQueen is hiding.

I know where I can lay hands on him.

And, Lukey, he's hurt bad.

He can't move.

- What's that you say?

- I went to Father Tom.

Him and me agreed on terms.

Nothing definite, no promises,

but a rich thing, a particle

of something - very precious.

What have you been up to,

you sneaking little rat?!

Lukey, dear! There's hundreds

of police out to get Johnny

and what was the wrong in me

diddling him out of harm

and putting him

into the palm of the hand of mercy?

- You!

- Lukey!

- I only asked...

- Selling a human being!

Lukey, he goes to the right buyer.

- How much did he offer?

- There was no exact figure.

- How much?

- Negotiations was left open!

Liar!

I'm going to hit you hard

for trying to sell a man.

Lukey, don't. I know

where Johnny is at this minute.

Let me take him to Father Tom.

- I'm going to hit you unless...

- What?

You bring him here for me to paint.

That's a desperate thing you're asking.

What about his friends?

Then you can do

what you like with him.

- Do what I tell you.

- It'd take too long.

Just head and shoulders.

There'll be something in his eyes,

something more

than all my failures have.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes